BUS 462H - Sustainability Consulting Project Recommendation, 3 credit hours

Open to students formally accepted into Business Honors, University Honors students who elect these course to satisfy upper level requirements, and business students with Business Honors Director approval. This two-semester course sequence is the “capstone” course for the Business Honors Track. It combines all the various skills, abilities, and attitudes received in the general business curriculum and honors preparatory courses deemed important in the consulting project. It explores crafting and implementing strategy within the context of maintaining and/or enhancing sustainable business practices. Students explore strategy formulation dynamics including the external environment and its impact on business functioning, industry dynamics, the resource-based view of the firm, and business level strategic choices. Strategy recommendation includes evaluating global initiatives, mergers and acquisitions, stakeholder effects, organizational structure, boards and strategic leadership and their effects on business, society and the triple bottom line. All student learning is focused upon clients and the development of consulting skills necessary for the successful development, presentation, and execution of a sustainability plan for that organization. Focusing on the “triple bottom line,” small groups of students will function as consulting teams that will create viable audits and plans for organizational transformation and growth. In each case, students will aim to recommend to their client a sustainability project to be implemented within their organization.